Document Name] DESCRIPTION
[Ti t le of Invent ion] WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE, WIRELESS
COMMUNICATION NETWORK, AND IDENTIFICATION-NUMBER
SETTING METHOD
[Technical Field5 ]
[0001]
The present invent ion relates to a wireless communicat ion device, a
wireless communicat ion network, and an ident ificat ion -number set t ing
method, and more part icular ly, to a wi reless communicat ion device, a
10 wireless communicat ion network, and an ident ificat ion -number set t ing
method for al locat ing IP addresses to devices const i tut ing a network.
[Background Art]
[0002]
In a typical wireless communicat ion network, there is known a
15 configurat ion in which a DHCP server is instal led in a network in order to
al locate an Internet Protocol ( IP) address to each of wi reless
communicat ion devices const i tut ing the network. DHCP is an
abbreviat ion of Dynamic Host Configurat ion Protocol .
[0003]
20 PTL 1 discloses a wi reless communicat ion network in which a
DHCP server is instal led. Fig. 11 is a configurat ion diagram of the
wireless communicat ion network disclosed in PTL 1.
[0004]
As i l lust rated in Fig. 11, the wi reless communicat ion network
25 disclosed in PTL 1 is provided wi th a router 501, a wi reless LAN access
point terminal 502, and wireless LAN terminals 503 -1, 503-2, and 503-3.
LAN is an abbreviat ion of Local Area Network. The wi reless LAN
terminals 503-1, 503-2, and 503-3 are connected to the router 501 via a
wireless LAN 506, namely, via a radio l ink or the l ike.
2
[0005]
The router 501 is provided wi th a DHCP server 504. The DHCP
server 504 in the router 501 al locates IP addresses to the wireless LAN
access point terminal 502, and to the wireless LAN terminals 503 -1, 503-2,
and 503-3. The wi reless LAN terminals 503 -1, 503-2, and 503-3 ar5 e
respect ively provided wi th DHCP cl ient funct ional uni ts 505-1, 505-2, and
505-3, and acquire IP addresses f rom the DHCP server 504. The wi reless
LAN terminals 503-1, 503-2, and 503-3 communicate wi th an external
network via the wi reless LAN access point terminal 502 or via the router
10 501, wi th the use of the acquired IP addresses.
[0006]
As described in the aforement ioned configurat ion and operat ion, in
the wi reless communicat ion network disclosed in PTL 1, a DHCP server
automat ical ly al locates an IP address to each of the wireless terminals
15 503-1, 503-2, and 503-3. As a resul t , each of the wi reless terminals
503-1, 503-2, and 503-3 can communicate wi th an external network via the
wireless LAN access point terminal 502 or via the router 501.
[0007]
PTL 2 also discloses a communicat ion network in which a DHCP
20 server is instal led. The DHCP server in the communicat ion network
disclosed in PTL 2 stores in advance IP addresses that do not overlap IP
addresses stored in another DHCP server device. When an IP address
al locat ion request is received f rom a cl ient terminal , the DHCP server
al locates a stored IP address to the cl ient terminal . As a resul t , in the
25 communicat ion network disclosed in PTL 2, i t is possible to prevent set t ing
of a same IP address to cl ient terminal s in an overlapping manner.
[0008]
As i l lust rated in Fig. 12, as one of typical wi reless communicat ion
networks, there is known a wi reless communicat ion network provided wi th
3
wireless communicat ion devices which perform wi reless communicat ion
wi th an adjacent wireless communicat ion device by use of point -to-point
connect ion. Fig. 12 is a diagram i l lustrat ing a configurat ion example of a
typical wi reless communicat ion network provided wi th wireless
communicat ion devices which per form wi reless communicat ion wi th a5 n
adjacent wi reless communicat ion device by point -to-point connect ion. In
the aforement ioned wireless communicat ion network, i t is not necessary to
provide a cable between wireless communicat ion devices which per form
wireless communicat ion by point -to-point connect ion. This makes i t
10 possible to configure a network by reducing the cost requi red to form a
new network.
[Ci tat ion List]
[Patent Li terature]
[0009]
15 PTL 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publ icat ion No. 2008-78990
PTL 2: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publ icat ion No. 2012-249213
[Summary of Invent ion]
[Technical Problem]
[0010]
20 However, in a network provided wi th wi reless communicat ion
devices which perform wi reless communicat ion by point -to-point
connect ion, i t is necessary to addi t ional ly provide a DHCP server , as is the
case wi th the communicat ion networks disclosed in PTL 1 and PTL 2, in
order to al locate an IP address to each of the wi reless communicat ion
25 devices. Because of the necessi ty of addi t ional ly providing a DHCP
server , the aforement ioned network provided wi th wi reless communicat ion
devices which perform wi reless communicat ion by point -to-point
connect ion (hereinaf ter , referred to as a “P2P communicat ion network”)
has a problem that i t is dif ficul t to sufficient ly reduce the cost requi red to
4
form a new network.
[0011]
Further, a P2P communicat ion network is typical ly provided wi th
one DHCP server , and the DHCP server al locates an IP address to each of
the wi reless communicat ion devices. Therefore, in a P2P communicat io5 n
network, the DHCP server al locates an IP address to e ach of the wireless
communicat ion devices via many radio l inks. For instance, in a P2P
communicat ion network i l lustrated in Fig. 13, the DHCP server al locates
an IP address to a wi reless communicat ion device 513 via two radio l inks
10 520 and 521.
[0012]
However, communicat ion qual i ty of a radio l ink may be degraded
depending on a communicat ion envi ronment . This leads to a problem that
in a P2P communicat ion network in which an IP address is al located via
15 many radio l inks, i t is highly l ikely to present a wireless communicat ion
device to which an IP address is not al located.
[0013]
For instance, the DHCP server al locates an IP address to the
wireless communicat ion device 513 via the radio l inks 520 and 521.
20 When one of the radio l inks 520 and 521 is deteri orated, i t is impossible to
al locate an IP address to the wireless communicat ion device 513. In a
P2P communicat ion network, i t is highly l ikely to present the wireless
communicat ion device to which an IP address is not al located. In
part icular , as the number of radio l inks between the DHCP server and the
25 wireless communicat ion devices increases, the aforement ioned problem
may be occurred more often.
[0014]
The present invent ion aims to provide a wireless communicat ion
device, a wi reless communicat ion ne twork, and an ident i ficat ion-number
5
set t ing method that solves the above-described problems.
[Solut ion to Problem]
[0015]
To achieve the above-described object , a wireless communicat ion
device of the present invent ion is a wi reless communicat ion device whic5 h
performs point -to-point wireless communicat ion wi th at least one of other
communicat ion devices, wherein in response to an input of a predetermined
signal , a predetermined ident i ficat ion number is al located to the other
communicat ion device.
10 [0016]
To achieve the above-described object , a wi reless communicat ion
network of the present invent ion is a wireless communicat ion network
comprising: a wi reless communicat ion device which performs
point -to-point wi reless communicat ion wi th at least one of other
15 communicat ion devices, wherein in response to an input of a predetermined
signal , a predetermined ident i ficat ion number is al located to the other
communicat ion device.
[0017]
To achieve the above-described object , an ident if icat ion-number
20 set t ing method of the present invent ion is an ident i ficat ion-number set t ing
method for a wi reless communicat ion means which performs point -to-point
wireless communicat ion wi th at least one of other communicat ion means,
the method comprising: in response to an input of a predetermined signal ,
al locat ing a predetermined ident i ficat ion number to the other
25 communicat ion means.
[Advantageous Ef fects of Invent ion]
[0018]
According to the present invent ion, in a wireless communicat ion
network, i t is possible to suf ficient ly reduc e the cost requi red to form a
6
new network.
[Brief Descript ion of Drawings]
[0019]
Fig. 1 is a diagram i l lustrat ing a configurat ion example of a
wireless communicat ion network in a fi rst exemplary embodiment of th5 e
present invent ion;
Fig. 2 is a diagram i l lustrat ing a configurat ion example of a
wireless communicat ion device 20 provided in the wi reless communicat ion
network in the fi rst exemplary embodiment of the present invent ion;
10 Fig. 3 is a diagram (Part 1) for describing an operat ion of wi reless
communicat ion devices provided in the wi reless communicat ion network in
the fi rst exemplary embodiment of the present invent ion;
Fig. 4 is a diagram (Part 2) for describing an operat ion of wi reless
communicat ion devices provided in the wi reless communicat ion n etwork in
15 the fi rst exemplary embodiment of the present invent ion;
Fig. 5 is a diagram i l lustrat ing another configurat ion example of the
wireless communicat ion network in the f i rst exemplary embodiment of the
present invent ion (a case in which each of the wi reless communicat ion
devices is connected by a radio l ink);
20 Fig. 6 is a diagram i l lustrat ing another configurat ion example of the
wireless communicat ion device 20 provided in a wi reless communicat ion
system in the fi rst exemplary embodiment of the pres ent invent ion;
Fig. 7 is a diagram i l lustrat ing a configurat ion example of a
wireless communicat ion network in a second exemplary embodiment of the
25 present invent ion;
Fig. 8 is a diagram i l lustrat ing a configurat ion example of a
wireless communicat ion device 220 provided in the wireless
communicat ion network in the second exemplary embodiment of the
present invent ion;
7
Fig. 9 is a diagram for describing an operat ion of wi reless
communicat ion devices provided in the wi reless communicat ion network in
the second exemplary embodiment of the present invent ion;
Fig. 10 is a diagram i l lust rat ing a configurat ion example of a
wireless communicat ion network in a thi rd exemplary embodiment of th5 e
present invent ion;
Fig. 11 is a configurat ion diagram of the wireless communicat ion
network disclosed in PTL 1;
Fig. 12 is a diagram i l lust rat ing a configurat ion example of a
10 typical wi reless communicat ion network provided wi th wireless
communicat ion devices which per form wi reless communicat ion by
point -to-point connect ion; and
Fig. 13 is a diagram i l lust rat ing a configurat ion example of a
typical wi reless communicat ion network provided wi th wireless
15 communicat ion devices which per form wi reless communicat ion by
point -to-point connect ion (a case in which a DHCP server is pr ovided) .
[Descript ion of Embodiments]
[0020]
In the fol lowing, exemplary embodiments of the present invent ion
20 are described in detai l refer ring to the drawings. Note that Fig. 1 is a
diagram i l lust rat ing a configurat ion example of a wireless communicat io n
network in a fi rst exemplary embodiment of the present invent ion.
[0021]
[First Embodiment]
25 As i l lust rated in Fig. 1, a wi reless communicat ion network in the
first exemplary embodiment of the present invent ion is a network provided
wi th wi reless communicat ion devices 10 to 13, and 20 to 21, which per form
wireless communicat ion wi th an adjacent wireless communicat ion device
by point -to-point connect ion. In other words, the wi reless
8
communicat ion network in the present exemplary embodiment is a P2P
communicat ion network.
[0022]
Note that unl ike a typical P2P communicat ion network, the wi reless
communicat ion network in the present exemplary embodiment is provide5 d
wi th a plural i ty of wireless communicat ion devices 10 and 20, each of
which has a funct ion of a DHCP server . Each of the wireless
communicat ion devices 10 and 20 has the funct ion of a DHCP server .
Therefore, in the wireless communicat ion network in the present
10 exemplary embodiment , i t is not necessary to have an addi t ional DHCP
server . This suf ficient ly reduces the cost required to form a new
network.
[0023]
Further, in the wi reless communicat ion network in the present
15 exemplary embodiment , the wi reless communicat ion devices 10 and 20
having the funct ion of a DHCP server are disposed wi th at least one radio
l ink between them (in the configurat ion i l lust rated in Fig. 1, a radio l ink
40) . The wi reless communicat ion device 10 and the wi reless
communicat ion device 20 are connected in series to at least one of the
20 other wi reless communicat ion device s (for example, the wi reless
communicat ion device 21) .
[0024]
The wi reless communicat ion device having the funct ion of a DHCP
server (hereinafter, referred to as a “DHCP wi reless communicat ion
25 device”) is disposed as described above. Therefore, in the wi reless
communicat ion network in the present exemplary embodiment , i t is
possible to reduce the number of radio l inks between a DHCP wireless
communicat ion device and the wi reless communicat ion devices, as
compared wi th a typical P2P communicat ion network.
9
[0025]
For instance, as i l lustrated in Fig. 13, in a typical P2P
communicat ion network, the number of radio l inks between the DHCP
server and the wireless communicat ion device 513 is two. On the other
hand, in the wi reless communicat ion network in the present exemplar5 y
embodiment , the number of radio l inks between the DHCP wi reless
communicat ion device and the wi reless communicat ion device 21
(cor responding to the wireless communicat ion device 513) is reduced to
one i .e. a radio l ink 41. As a resul t , the DHCP wi reless communicat ion
10 device can securely al locate an IP address to each of the wireless
communicat ion devices. Therefore, in the wi reless communicat ion
network in the present exemplary embodiment , i t is possible to avoid a
case that an IP address is not al located to the wireless communicat ion
device.
15 [0026]
Further, in the wi reless communicat ion network in the present
exemplary embodiment , the DHCP wireless communicat ion device
al locates an IP address only when a request is received from a
predetermined wi reless communicat ion device assigned to the instant
20 DHCP wi reless communicat ion device so as to avoid a case that two or
more DHCP wi reless communicat ion devices redundant ly al locate an IP
addresses to the wireless communicat ion device . The aforement ioned
request is a request for al locat ing an IP address.
[0027]
25 In the fol lowing, the wi reless communicat ion device in the f irst
exemplary embodiment of the present invent ion is described in detai l .
[0028]
[Descript ion on Conf igurat ion]
Fi rst ly, a configurat ion and funct ion of the wireless communicat ion
10
network in the fi rst exemplary embodiment of the present invent ion are
described.
[0029]
(1) Configurat ion of Wi reless Communicat ion Network in the
Fi rst Embodiment of the Present Invent io5 n
As i l lust rated in Fig. 1, the wireless communicat ion network in the
present exemplary embodiment is provided wi th wireless communicat ion
devices 10, 11, 12, 13, 20, and 21, and an Element Management System
(EMS) 30.
10 [0030]
The wi reless communicat ion device 10 and the wi reless
communicat ion device 20 are connected to each other via the radio l ink 40
and the wi reless communicat ion device 11. Speci fical ly, the wi reless
communicat ion device 10 is connected to the wi reless communicat ion
15 device 11 via the radio l ink 40. The wi reless communicat ion device 11 is
connected to the wireless communicat ion device 20 via a wi red l ine.
Further, the wi reless communicat ion device 20 is connected to the wi reless
communicat ion device 21 via a radio l ink. Further, the wi reless
communicat ion device 20 is connected to the wi reless communicat ion
20 device 13 via a wired l ine. The wi reless communicat ion device 13 is
connected to the wireless communicat ion device 12 via a radio l ink. The
wireless communicat ion device 10 is also connected to the EMS 30 via a
wired l ine.
[0031]
25 (2) Funct ion of Wi reless Communicat ion Devices 10, 20
The wi reless communicat ion devices 10, 20 are each provided wi th
a funct ion for per forming wi reless communicat ion wi th the adjacent
wireless communicat ion devices 11, 21 by point -to-point connect ion,
respect ively.
11
[0032]
Further, the wireless communicat ion devices 10, 20 are provided
wi th the funct ion of a DHCP server. In response to a request for an IP
address f rom the wireless communicat ion devices 11 to 13, and 21, the
wireless communicat ion devices 10, 20 al locate an IP address to th5 e
wireless communicat ion device that t ransmi t s the request . Note that the
wireless communicat ion devices 10, 20 determine whether the wireless
communicat ion device that transmi ts a request for al locat ing an IP address
is a predetermined device assigned to the wi reless communicat ion devices
10 10, 20 to avoid a case that both of the wireless communicat ion devices 10
and 20 redundant ly al locate an IP addresses to the wireless communi cat ion
device 11 and the l ike. When i t is determined that the wireless
communicat ion device is the predetermined device, the wi reless
communicat ion devices 10, 20 al locate an IP address. A method for
15 determining whether the wi reless communicat ion device is the
predetermined device wi l l be described later in detai l in the sect ion
[Descript ion on Operat ion] .
[0033]
(3) Configurat ion of Each Uni t Const i tut ing Wireless
20 Communicat ion Devices 10, 20
A configurat ion of the wireless communicat ion devices 10, 20 for
implement ing the aforement ioned funct ion is described. Since the
configurat ion of the wireless communicat ion device 10 is the same as the
configurat ion of the wireless communicat ion device 20, the configurat ion
25 of the wi reless communicat ion device 20 is described as a representat ive of
the wi reless communicat ion devices. Fig. 2 is a diagram i l lustrat ing a
configurat ion example of the wireless communicat ion device 20 provided
in the wi reless communicat ion network in the f irst exemplary embodiment
of the present invent ion.
12
[0034]
As i l lust rated in Fig. 2, the wireless communicat ion device 20 is
provided wi th communicat ion uni ts 101 -i (i=1 to the number of devices to
be connected via wi red l ines), a wi reless communicat ion uni t 102, an
al locat ion funct ional uni t 103, an al locat ion grasping uni t 104, and a5 n
informat ion holding uni t 105. The wi reless communicat ion device 20 is
connected to the two wi reless communicat ion devices 11 and 13 via wi red
l ines. Therefore, the wi reless communicat ion device 20 is provided wi th
a communicat ion uni t 101-1 and a communicat ion uni t 101-2. (Note that
10 since the wi reless communicat ion device 10 is connected to the EMS 30 via
a wired l ine, the wi reless communicat ion device 10 is provided wi th a
single communicat ion uni t 101-1).
The al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 is connected to the
communicat ion uni t 101-1, the communicat ion uni t 101-2, the wireless
15 communicat ion uni t 102, the al locat ion grasping uni t 104, and the
informat ion holding uni t 105. The informat ion holding un i t 105 is
connected to the communicat ion uni t 101 -1, the communicat ion uni t 101-2,
and the al locat ion grasping uni t 104.
[0035]
20 Note that the communicat ion uni t 101-1 is connected to the wi reless
communicat ion device 11 via a wi red l ine. The communicat io n uni t
101-2 is connected to the wi reless communicat ion device 13 via a wi red
l ine. The wi reless communicat ion uni t 102 is connected to the wi reless
communicat ion device 21 via a radio l ink.
25 [0036]
The communicat ion uni t 101-1, the communicat ion uni t 101-2, and
the wi reless communicat ion uni t 102 can be implemented by using an
elect ronic circui t , a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), or a Digi tal
Signal Processor (DSP). The al locat ion funct ional uni t 103, the
13
al locat ion grasping uni t 104, and the informat ion holding uni t 105 can be
implemented by a software component , and are provided wi th a Central
Processing Uni t (CPU) and a memory such as an RAM for execut ing the
software component s. RAM is an abbreviat ion of Random Access
Memory5 .
[0037]
(4) Funct ion of Each Uni t Const i tut ing Wireless Communicat ion
devices 10, 20
The detai ls of the funct ion of each uni t const i tut ing the wi reless
10 communicat ion devices 10, 20 are described in the fol lowing.
[0038]
Fi rst ly, in response to an input of a packet reques t ing al locat ion of
an IP address (hereinafter, refer red to as an “al locat ion request packet ”)
from a wired l ine connected to the communicat ion uni t 101 - i , the
15 communicat ion uni t 101-i outputs the al locat ion request packet to the
al locat ion funct ional uni t 103. Further, the communicat ion uni t 101-i
outputs a packet input f rom the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 to the wi red
l ine.
[0039]
20 The wi reless communicat ion uni t 102 executes the fol lowing
funct ion after act ivat ion and establ ishment of point -to-point connect ion
wi th the wireless communicat ion device adjacent to the wi reless
communicat ion uni t 102.
[0040]
25 Fi rst ly, in response to an input of the al locat ion request packet f rom
the radio l ink connected to the wi reless communicat ion uni t 102 (i .e. a n
adjacent wireless communicat ion device) , the wi reless communicat ion uni t
102 outputs the al locat ion request packet to the al locat ion funct ional uni t
103. Further , the wireless communicat ion uni t 102 outputs a packet input
14
from the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 to the radio l ink connected to the
wireless communicat ion uni t 102 (to the adjacent wi reless communicat ion
device) as a radio signal .
[0041]
In response to an input of the al locat ion request packet , th5 e
al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 determines whether the input packet is the
al locat ion request packet f rom a predetermined wireless communicat ion
device under control . The aforement ioned determinat ion method wi l l be
described later in detai l in the sect ion [Descript ion on Operat ion] .
10 [0042]
When the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 determines that the input
packet is the al locat ion request packet f rom the predetermined wireless
communicat ion device, the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 requests
al locatable IP addresses f rom the informat ion holding uni t 105. In
15 response to an input of al locatable IP addresses, the al locat ion funct ional
uni t 103 arbi trar i ly selects one of the al locatable IP addresses, and outputs
the selected IP address as a packet to the communicat ion uni t 101-i that has
input the al locat ion request packet , or to the wi reless communicat ion uni t
102. Note that when output t ing the packet , the al locat ion funct ional uni t
20 103 extracts an MAC address from the input al locat ion request packet , and
outputs the packet whose dest inat ion MAC (Media Access Control) address
is equal to the extracted MAC address. Further, the al locat ion funct ional
uni t 103 outputs the selected IP address to the al locat ion grasping uni t 104.
[0043]
25 On the other hand, when the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103
determines that the input packet is not the al locat ion request packet f rom
the predetermined wi reless communicat ion device, the al locat ion
funct ional uni t 103 t ransfers the input al locat ion request packet to the
other wi reless communicat ion device. The t ransfer method wi l l be
15
described later in detai l in the sect ion [Descript ion on Operat ion] .
[0044]
In response to an input of an IP address, the al locat ion grasping uni t
104 outputs a signal request ing not to al locate the IP address (hereinafter ,
refer red to as an “al locat ion disable signal ”) . Note that the al locat io5 n
grasping uni t 104 outputs the aforement ioned al locat ion disable signal , in
which an input IP address is included.
[0045]
The informat ion holding uni t 105 sets and holds at least one IP
10 address that is usable in the network by an administrator of the wireless
communicat ion network in the present exemplary embodiment . In
response to a request for an al locatable IP address, the informat ion holding
uni t 105 outputs al locatable IP addresses held therein. In respons e to an
input of the aforement ioned al locat ion disable signal , the informat ion
15 holding uni t 105 extracts an IP address from the signal , deletes the
extracted IP address from the al locatable IP addresses held therein, and
stores the extracted IP address as an IP address that is already al located.
[0046]
(5) Funct ion of Wi reless Communicat ion Devices 11, 12, 13, and
20 21
The wi reless communicat ion devices 11, 12, 13, 21 are provided
wi th the funct ion of performing wi reless communicat ion wi th the wi reless
communicat ion devices 10, 13, 12, 20 adjacent thereto by point -to-point
connect ion, and are further provided wi th a typical funct ion of a DHCP
25 cl ient .
[0047]
Specif ical ly, after act ivat ion, the wi reless communicat ion devices
11, 12, 13, 21 execute the fol lowing funct ion af ter act ivat ion and
establ ishment of point -to-point connect ion wi th the wi reless
16
communicat ion devices 10, 13, 12, 20 (in the case of the wireless
communicat ion devices 10, 20, the wi reless communicat ion uni t 102 in the
wireless communicat ion devices 10, 20) adjacent to the wi reless
communicat ion uni t 11, 12, 13, 21.
[00485 ]
Fi rst ly, the wi reless communicat ion devices 11, 12, 13, 21
broadcast a packet request ing al locat ion of an IP address, namely, the
al locat ion request packet wi thin the wi reless communicat ion network in
the present exemplary embodiment . The al locat ion request packet may be
10 a wel l -known broadcast packet . Note that the wi reless communicat ion
devices 11, 12, 13, 21 broadcast the al locat ion request packet , in which an
MAC address thereof is included. In response to an input of the
al locat ion request packet f rom one of the wireless communicat ion devices
10 to 13, and 20 to 21, the wi reless communicat ion devices 11, 12, 13, 21
15 output the al locat ion request packet to the wireless communicat ion devices
10 to 13, and 20 to 21 other than the wi reless communicat ion device that
transmi ts the al locat ion request packet . In response to an input of a
packet f rom the wireless communicat ion devices 10, 20, the wireless
communicat ion devices 11, 12, 13, 21 extract an IP address from the packet .
20 The wi reless communicat ion devices 11, 12, 13, 21 hold the extracted IP
address as an IP address thereof.
[0049]
(6) Funct ion of EMS 30
The EMS 30 is a typical EMS, and moni tors wi reless
25 communicat ion devices. An IP address is set in the EMS 30 by the
administ rator of the wireless communicat ion network in the present
exemplary embodiment . The EMS 30 holds the set IP address as an IP
address thereof. In the fol lowing, i t is assumed that the IP addr ess
“172.18.3.1/24” is set in the EMS 30, and the EMS 30 holds the set IP
17
address as an IP address thereof.
[0050]
[Descript ion on Operat ion]
Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 are diagrams for describing an operat ion of
wireless communicat ion devices provided in the wi r eless communicat io5 n
network in the fi rst exemplary embodiment of the present invent ion. In
the fol lowing, the operat ion of the wireless communicat ion devices in the
present exemplary embodiment is described using Fig. 3 and Fig. 4.
[0051]
10 (1) Preparatory Set t ing for Wi reless Communicat ion Devices 10,
20 (DHCP server )
(1-1) Determinat ion of Wireless Communicat ion Device to which
IP Address is Al located
Fi rst ly, to operate the wireless communicat ion network in the
15 present exemplary embodiment , the administrator of the wi reless
communicat ion network in the present exemplary embodiment determines
wireless communicat ion devices that const i tute a network together wi th the
wireless communicat ion devices 10, 20 for each of the wi reless
communicat ion devices 10 and 20 provided wi th the funct ion of a DHCP
20 server .
[0052]
For instance, the administ rator of the wi reless communicat ion
network in the present exemplary embodiment may determine that wi reless
communicat ion devices that const i tute a network together wi th the wi reless
25 communicat ion device 10 are the wireless communicat ion devices 11 to 13,
and that wi reless communicat ion device that const i tute s a network together
wi th the wireless communicat ion device 20 is the wi reless communicat ion
device 21.
[0053]
18
In the fol lowing, descript ion is cont inued based on the premise that
the administrator of the wi reless communicat ion network in the present
exemplary embodiment determines wi reless communicat ion devices that
const i tute a network together wi th the wi reless communicat ion devices 10,
20 as described above. Further, in the fol lowing, a network const i tute5 d
by the wi reless communicat ion device 10 and the wireless communicat ion
devices 11 to 13 is referred to as a “network 1” , and a network const i tuted
by the wi reless communicat ion device 20 and the wireless communicat ion
device 21 is refer red to as a “network 2” .
10 [0054]
(1-2) Preparatory Set t ing
As wi l l be descr ibed later in the sect ion “ (2) Operat ion of Wi reless
Communicat ion Network in Exemplary Embodiment ” in detai l , the wi reless
communicat ion devices 10, 20 per form an operat ion of al locat ing an IP
15 address to the wireless communicat ion device const i tut ing a network
together wi th the wi reless communicat ion devices 10, 20 (the wireless
communicat ion device determined in the aforement ioned sect ion (1-1) ).
In order to carry out the aforement ioned operat ion, the administrator of the
wireless communicat ion network in the present exemplary embodiment
20 performs set t ings described in the fol lowing sect ions (1-2-1) to (1-2-3) in
advance wi th respect to the wi reless communicat ion devices 10, 20
provided wi th the funct ion of a DHCP server .
[0055]
(1-2-1) Set t ing of IP Address of Each Port
25 The administ rator of the wi reless communicat ion network in the
present exemplary embodiment sets IP addresses of the communicat ion
uni t 101-i and the wi reless communicat ion uni t 102 (hereinafter , refer red
to as “ports” ) provided in the wi reless communicat ion devices 10, 20 in the
al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 in the wi reless communicat i on devices 10,
19
20.
[0056]
Specif ical ly, the administ rator of the wireless communicat ion
network in the present exemplary embodiment sets an IP address of each
port in the wireless communicat ion device 10, in other words , IP addresse5 s
of the communicat ion uni t 101-1 and the wireless communicat ion uni t 102
provided in the wi reless communicat ion device 10 in the al locat ion
funct ional uni t 103 in the wi reless communicat ion device 10. Further ,
the administ rator sets an IP address of each port in the wi reless
10 communicat ion device 20, in other words , IP addresses of the
communicat ion uni t 101-1, the communicat ion uni t 101-2, and the wi reless
communicat ion uni t 102 in the wi reless communicat ion device 20 in the
al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 in the wi reless commun icat ion device 20.
[0057]
15 The administ rator of the wi reless communicat ion network in the
present exemplary embodiment may set any IP address, as the IP address of
each port . Note that regarding IP addresses of por ts ( for example, the
wireless communicat ion uni t 102 in the wireless communicat ion device 10)
to be connected to the wi reless communicat ion devices 11 to 13
20 const i tut ing the network 1, the administ rator of the wireless
communicat ion network in the present exemplary embodiment sets an IP
address including a network part (for example, “172.18.1”) represent ing
the network 1 for each port . Likewise, regarding a port ( the wireless
communicat ion uni t 102 in the wi reless communicat ion device 20) to be
25 connected to the wireless communicat ion device 21 co nst i tut ing the
network 2, the administrator sets an IP address including a network par t
(for example, “172.18.2”) represent ing the network 2. The network parts
represent ing the networks 1 and 2 are determined so as to be different from
each other by the administ rator of the wi reless communicat ion network in
20
the present exemplary embodiment .
[0058]
Fig. 3 i l lustrates a speci fic example of set t ing the IP address of
each port . The administ rator of the wireless communicat ion network in
the present exemplary embodiment may set the IP address of each port a5 s
described in associat ion wi th the characters “A” to “E” in Fig. 3.
[0059]
(1-2-2) Set t ing of Al locatable IP addresses
Next , the administ rator of the wi reless communicat ion network in
10 the present exemplary embodiment sets IP addresses al locatable to the
wireless communicat ion devices in the informat ion holding uni t 105 in the
wireless communicat ion devices 10, 20.
[0060]
Specif ical ly, the administ rator of the wireless communicat ion
15 network in the present exemplary embodiment sets IP addresses including
the network part represent ing the network 1, as IP address es al locatable to
the wi reless communicat ion devices 11 to 13 , in the informat ion holding
uni t 105 in the wireless communicat ion device 10. Likewise , the
administ rator of the wi reless communicat ion network in the present
20 exemplary embodiment sets IP addresses including the network par t
represent ing the network 2, as IP address es al locatable to the wireless
communicat ion device 21, in the informat ion holding uni t 105 in the
wireless communicat ion device 20.
[0061]
25 The informat ion holding uni t 105 in the wi reless communicat ion
devices 10, 20 holds the set al locatable IP addresses therein.
[0062]
(Set t ing Example of Al locatable IP Addresses)
For instance, the administ rator of the wi reless communicat ion
21
network in the present exemplary embodiment may set forty IP addresses
i .e. “172.18.1.10/24”, “172.18.1.11/24”, … , and “172.18.1.49/24” in the
informat ion holding uni t 105 in the wi reless communicat ion d evice 10.
Every one of the IP addresses is an IP address having the network par t
( “172.18.1”) represent ing the network 15 .
[0063]
Likewise, the administrator of the wi reless communicat ion network
in the present exemplary embodiment may set for ty IP addresses i .e.
“172.18.2.10/24”, “172.18.2.11/24” , … , and “172.18.2.49/24” in the
10 informat ion holding uni t 105 in the wi reless communicat ion device 20.
Every one of the IP addresses is an IP address having the network par t
( “172.18.2”) represent ing the network 2.
[0064]
(1-2-3) Set t ing of Defaul t Gateway
15 Next , the administ rator of the wi reless communicat ion network in
the present exemplary embodiment sets the IP address of the defaul t
gateway in the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 in the wi reless
communicat ion devices 10, 20.
[0065]
20 Specif ical ly, the administ rator of the wireless communicat ion
network in the present exemplary embodiment sets an IP address of a
device on the outside of the network 1 connected to the wi reless
communicat ion device 10, for instance, an IP address of the EMS 30, as the
IP address of the defaul t gateway, in the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 in
25 the wi reless communicat ion device 10. The administrator of the wi reless
communicat ion network in the present exemplary embodiment sets an IP
address of a device on the outside of the network 2 connected to the
wireless communicat ion device 20, for instance, an IP address of a port in
the wi reless communicat ion device 10, as the IP address of the defaul t
22
gateway, in the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 in the wireless
communicat ion device 20.
[0066]
(Set t ing Example of Defaul t Gateway)
For instance, the administ rator of the wi reless communicat io5 n
network in the present exemplary embodiment may set an IP addres s
“172.18.1.1/24” of the communicat ion uni t 101-1 in the wireless
communicat ion device 10, as the IP address of the defaul t gateway, in the
al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 in the wi reless communicat ion device 20.
10 In Fig. 3, the set IP address “172.18.1.1/24” is described in associat ion
wi th the character “X” .
[0067]
Further, the administrator of the wi reless communicat ion network
in the present exemplary embodiment may set an IP address of the EMS 30,
15 for instance, “172.18.3.1/24”, as the IP address of the defaul t gateway, in
the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 in the wireless communicat ion device 10.
In Fig. 3, the set IP address “172.18.3.1/24” is described in associat ion
wi th the character “Y” .
[0068]
20 In the fol lowing, descript ion is cont inued based on the premise that
the administ rator of the wireless communicat ion network in the present
exemplary embodiment sets the IP address of the defaul t gateway as
described above.
[0069]
25 (2) Operat ion of Wireless Communicat ion Network in the Present
Exemplary Embodiment
In the fol lowing, an oper at ion of the wi reless communicat ion
network in the present exemplary embodiment is described.
[0070]
23
In the fol lowing, descript ion is made based on the premise that after
act ivat ion, each of the wi reless communicat ion devices 10 to 13, and 20 to
21 (in the case of the wi reless communicat ion devices 10, 20, the wireless
communicat ion uni t 102) establ ishes point -to-point connect ion to the
wireless communicat ion devices 11, 10, 13, 12, 21, 20 adjacent thereto5 .
[0071]
(2-1) Operat ion 1 of Wireless Communicat ion Devices 11 to 13,
and 21 (DHCP Cl ient )
Fi rst ly, after establ ishing point -to-point connect ion, the wi reles s
10 communicat ion devices 11 to 13, and 21 broadcast a packet request ing
al locat ion of an IP address (hereinaf ter, refer red to as an “ al l o c at i o n
request packet ” ) wi thin the wireless communicat ion network in the present
exemplary embodiment . This is because the wi reless communicat ion
devices 11 to 13, and 21 do not know the IP address of the wi reless
15 communicat ion devices 10, 20 having the funct ion of a DHCP server.
The arrows in Fig. 3 indicate how the wi reless communicat ion devices 11,
21 broadcast the al locat ion request packet .
[0072]
The aforement ioned al locat ion request packet may be a wel l -known
20 broadcast packet , for instance, a DHCP Discover message. Note that the
wireless communicat ion devices 11 to 13, and 21 broadcast the al locat ion
request packet , in which an MAC (Media Access Control ) address thereof
is included.
[0073]
25 (Regarding Broadcasted Al locat ion Request Packet )
The al locat ion request packet broadcasted f rom the wi reless
communicat ion devices 11 to 13, and 21 is input to the wireless
communicat ion devices 10, 20.
[0074]
24
(2-2) Operat ion of Wi reless Communicat ion Devices 10, 20
(DHCP Server )
(Summary of Operat ion)
In response to an input of a broadcasted al locat ion request packet ,
the wireless communicat ion devices 10, 20 determine whether th5 e
al locat ion request packet is the al locat ion request packet f rom the
predetermined wireless communicat ion device assigned to the wi reless
communicat ion devices 10, 20.
[0075]
10 Specif ical ly, in response to an input of the al locat ion request packet ,
the wireless communicat ion device 10 determines whether the al locat ion
request packet is the al locat ion request packet f rom the wireless
communicat ion devices 11, 12, 13 const i tut ing the network 1 together wi th
the wireless communicat ion device 10. Likewise, in response to an input
15 of the al locat ion request packet , the wi reless communicat ion device 20
determines whether the al locat ion request packet is the al locat ion request
packet f rom the wireless communicat ion device 21 const i tut ing the
network 2 together wi th the wireless communicat ion device 20. The
detai ls on the determinat ion wi l l be descr ibed later in the sect ion (Detai ls
20 on Operat ion).
[0076]
When the input al locat ion request packet is the al locat ion request
packet f rom the wireless communicat ion device const i tut ing a network
together wi th the wireless communicat ion devices 10, 20, the wi reless
25 communicat ion devices 10, 20 al locate an IP address to the wireless
communicat ion device that inputs the al locat ion request packet .
[0077]
(Detai ls on Operat ion)
In order to implement the aforement ioned operat ion, the wi reless
25
communicat ion devices 10, 20 per form the processes indicated by the
fol lowing S10 to S21. The fol lowing S10 to S21 are described regarding
the wi reless communicat ion device 20. The same appl ied to the wi reless
communicat ion device 10. Note that regarding the wireless
communicat ion device 10, S10 to S21 are performed by repla cing the ter5 m
“ the wi reless communicat ion device 20” by the term “ the wi reless
communicat ion device 10” , replacing the term “ the network 2” by the term
“ the network 1”, and replacing the term “ the wi reless communicat ion
device 21” by the term “ the wi reless communicat ion devices 11 to 13” .
10 [0078]
Further, in the fol lowing S10 to S21, descript ion is made based on
the premise that the al locat ion request packet is input f rom the wireless
communicat ion devices 11, 21. The wi reless communicat ion devices 10,
20 also per form the same process as described above when the al locat ion
15 request packet is input f rom the wi reless communicat ion devices 12, 13.
[0079]
(2-2-1) Determinat ion as to Whether Packet is Al locat ion Request
Packet f rom Wireless Communicat ion Device Const i tut ing Network
together wi th Device (Part 1)
20 (S10)
Fi rst ly, as i l lustrated in Fig. 4, in response to an input of the
al locat ion request packet f rom the wi reless communicat ion device 21, the
wireless communicat ion uni t 102 in the wireless communica t ion device 20
outputs the al locat ion request packet to the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103.
25 [0080]
(S11)
Next , in response to an input of the al locat ion request packet , the
al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 in the wi reless communicat ion device 20
determines whether the input al locat ion request packet is the al locat ion
26
request packet f rom the wireless communicat ion device 21 const i tut ing the
network 2.
[0081]
Specif ical ly, the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 in the wi reless
communicat ion device 20 per forms determinat ion according to th5 e
fol lowing ( I) to ( III) .
[0082]
(Speci fic Operat ion of S11)
( I)
10 In response to an input of the al locat ion request packet f rom the
wireless communicat ion uni t 102, the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 in the
wireless communicat ion device 20 determines whether the network part of
the IP address of the wi reless communicat ion uni t 102 is the same as the
network part of the IP address of a defaul t gateway.
15 [0083]
(Reason Why i t is possible to Determine whether Al locat ion
Request Packet is Al locat ion Request Packet f rom Wireless
Communicat ion Device 21 Const i tut ing Network 2 by Determinat ion ( I) )
The network part of the IP address of the defaul t gateway represents
20 a network other than the network 2. Therefore, in the determinat ion ( I) ,
i t is determined whether the wireless communicat ion uni t 102 that inputs
the al locat ion request packet belongs to a network other than the network
2.
[0084]
25 When the network part of the IP address of the wi reless
communicat ion uni t 102 is the same as the network part of the IP address
of the defaul t gateway (which indicates a network other than the network
2), the wi reless communicat ion uni t 102 belongs to a network other than
the network 2. When the wi reless communicat ion uni t 102 belongs to a
27
network other than the network 2, the al locat ion request packet input f rom
the wireless communicat ion uni t 102 is a packet input from a network other
than the network 2. In other words, when the network part of the IP
address of the wireless communicat ion uni t 102 is the same as the network
part of the IP address of the defaul t gateway, i t is possible to determin5 e
that the input al locat ion request packet is not the al locat ion request packet
from the wi reless communicat ion device 21 const i tut ing the network 2.
[0085]
Conversely, when the network part of the IP address of the wi reless
10 communicat ion uni t 102 is dif ferent f rom the network par t of the IP
address of the defaul t gateway (which indicates a network other than the
network 2) , the wi reless communicat ion uni t 102 does not belong to a
network other than the network 2. When the wireless communicat ion uni t
102 does not belong to a network other than the network 2 (in other words,
15 when the wireless communicat ion uni t 102 belongs to the network 2), the
al locat ion request packet input f rom the wireless communicat ion uni t 102
is input f rom the network 2. In other words, when the network par t of the
IP address of the wi reless communicat ion uni t 102 is di fferent from the
network part of the IP address of the defaul t gateway, i t is possible to
20 determine that the input al locat ion request packet is the al locat ion request
packet f rom the wireless communicat ion device 21 const i tut ing the
network 2.
[0086]
By per forming the aforement ioned determinat ion ( I) , the al locat ion
25 funct ional uni t 103 in the wi reless communicat ion uni t 20 can determine
whether the input al locat ion request packet is the al locat ion request packet
from the wi reless communicat ion device 21 const i tut ing the network 2.
[0087]
( II)
28
In the aforement ioned determinat ion ( I) , when i t is determined that
the network parts are the same as each other , the al locat ion funct ional uni t
103 in the wi reless communicat ion device 20 determines that the input
al locat ion request packet is not the al locat ion request packet f rom the
wireless communicat ion device 21 const i tut ing the network 25 .
[0088]
( II I)
On the other hand, when i t is determined that the network parts are
dif ferent f rom each other, the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 in the wireless
10 communicat ion device 20 determines that the input al locat ion request
packet is the al locat ion request packet f rom the wireless communicat ion
device 21 const i tut ing the network 2.
[0089]
(Speci fic Example)
15 In the aforement ioned sect ion “(1) Preparatory Set t ing for Wireless
Communicat ion Devices 10, 20 (DHCP server ) ” , the administrator of the
wireless communicat ion network in the present exemplary embodiment sets
the IP address of the wireless communicat ion uni t 102 to be
“172.18.2.1/24” in the wi reless communicat ion device 20 (see E in Fig. 3) .
20 Further, the administrator of the wi reless communicat ion network in the
present exemplary embodiment sets the IP address of the defaul t gateway
to be “172.18.1.1/24” in the wi reless communicat ion device 20 (see X in
Fig. 3).
The network parts of the aforement ioned IP addresses are di fferent
25 from each other . Therefore, by performing the aforement ioned process
( II I) , the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 in the wi reless communicat ion
device 20 determines that the input al locat ion request packet is the
al locat ion request packet from the wireless communicat ion device 21
const i tut ing the network 2.
29
[0090]
Note that when the aforement ioned process ( II) is per formed, and
when i t is determined that the input al locat ion request packet is not the
al locat ion request packet from the wireless communicat ion device 21
const i tut ing the network 2, the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 t ransfers th5 e
input al locat ion request packet to another wi reless communicat ion device.
The speci fic content of the transfer oper at ion wi l l be descr ibed later in
detai l in S22. In the fol lowing, descr ipt ion is cont inued based on the
premise that the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 in the wi reless
10 communicat ion device 20 determines that the input al locat ion request
packet is the al locat ion request packet f rom the wireless communicat ion
device 21 const i tut ing the network 2.
[0091]
Note that in response to an input of the al locat ion request packet
15 from the wi reless communicat ion uni t 102, the al locat ion funct ional uni t
103 may immediately determine that the input al locat ion request packet is
the al locat ion request packet f rom the wi reless communicat ion device 21
const i tut ing the network 2, in place of per forming the aforement ioned
processes ( I) to ( III) .
20 [0092]
(2-2-2) Al locat ion of IP Address
(S12)
Next , as i l lust rated in Fig. 4, when the al locat ion funct ional uni t
103 determines that the input al locat ion request packet is the al locat ion
25 request packet f rom the wireless communicat ion device 21 const i tut ing the
network 2 ( in the case of Yes in S11), the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103
requests al locatable IP addresses from the informat ion holding uni t 105.
This is for the purpose of al locat ing an IP address to the wireless
communicat ion device 21.
30
[0093]
(S13)
Then, in response to a request for an al locatable IP address, the
informat ion holding uni t 105 in the wi reless communicat ion device 20
outputs al l the al locatable IP addresses held therein to the al locat io5 n
funct ional uni t 103.
[0094]
Specif ical ly, the informat ion holding uni t 105 in the wi reless
communicat ion device 20 outputs, to the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103, the
10 IP addresses “172.18.2.10/24” to “172.18.2.49/24” that are set in advance
and held as al locatable IP addresses .
[0095]
(S14)
Then, in response to an input of al locatable IP addresses, the
15 al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 in the wi reless communicat ion device 20
arbi t rari ly selects one of the al locatable IP addresses.
[0096]
(S15)
Then, the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 in the wireless
20 communicat ion device 20 includes the selected IP address in a typical
packet . In this case, the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 in the wi reless
communicat ion device 20 ext racts an MAC address from the input
al locat ion request packet , and sets a dest inat ion MAC address of the packe t ,
as the extracted MAC address.
25 [0097]
The aforement ioned extracted MAC address is an MAC address of
the wi reless communicat ion device 21. Therefore, the aforement ioned
packet is a packet for the wi reless communicat ion device 21. The
aforement ioned packet may be a wel l -known DHCP OFFER packet .
31
[0098]
(S16)
Then, the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 in the wireless
communicat ion device 20 outputs a packet generated in S15 to the wi reless
communicat ion uni t 102 that inputs the al locat ion request packet , or to th5 e
communicat ion uni t 101-i . In this exemplary embodiment , as descr ibed
in S10, the wireless communicat ion uni t 102 inputs the al locat ion request
packet . Therefore, the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 in the wi reless
communicat ion device 20 outputs a packet generated in S15 to the wi reless
10 communicat ion uni t 102.
[0099]
(S17)
Then, the wi reless communicat ion uni t 102 in the wi reless
communicat ion device 20 outputs an input packet ( IP address) to the
15 wireless communicat ion device 21 as a radio signa l.
[0100]
(Operat ion of Wi reless Communicat ion Device 21 after S17)
After S17, the packet is input to the wi reless communicat ion device
21 from the wi reless communicat ion device 20.
20 [0101]
The dest inat ion MAC address of the input packet is the MAC
address of the wi reless communicat ion device 21. Therefore, the wi reless
communicat ion device 21 acqui res an IP address f rom the extracted packet .
The wireless communicat ion device 21 holds the acquired IP address as i ts
25 own IP address.
[0102]
By performing the aforement ioned processes of S12 to S17, the
wireless communicat ion device 20 al locates an IP address to the wi reless
communicat ion device 21.
32
[0103]
(2-2-2) Management of Al located IP Address
After S16, the wi reless communicat ion device 20 per forms the
processes descr ibed in the fol lowing S18 to S20 so as not to al locate the IP
address that is al ready al located to the wireless communicat ion device 25 1
to another device.
[0104]
(S18)
After S16, the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 in the wireless
10 communicat ion device 20 outputs an IP address selected in S14 to the
al locat ion grasping uni t 104.
[0105]
(S19)
Then, in response to an input of an IP address f rom the al locat ion
15 funct ional uni t 103, the al locat ion grasping uni t 104 in the wi reless
communicat ion device 20 outputs, to the informat ion holding uni t 105, a
signal request ing not to al locate an IP address (hereinafter , refer red to as
an “ al l o c at i o n disable signal ”) . Note that the al locat ion grasping uni t
104 in the wi reless communicat ion device 20 outputs the aforement ioned
20 al locat ion disable signal , in which an input IP address is included.
[0106]
(S20)
Then, in response to an input of an al locat ion disable signal , the
informat ion holding uni t 105 in the wi reless communicat ion device 20
25 extracts an IP address from the signal , and deletes the extracted IP address
from the al locatable IP addresses held therein. Fur ther , the informat ion
holding uni t 105 in the wi reless communicat ion device 20 stores the
extracted IP address, as an IP address that is al ready al located.
[0107]
33
(2-2-3) Determinat ion as to Whether Packet is Al locat ion Request
Packet f rom Wireless Communicat ion Device Const i tut ing Network
together wi th Device (Part 2)
(S21)
Then, as i l lust rated in Fig. 4, when the al locat ion request packet i5 s
input from the wi reless communicat ion device ( for example, from the
wireless communicat ion device 11) , the communicat ion uni t 101 -i (for
example, the communicat ion uni t 101-1) in the wi reless communicat ion
device 20 outputs the al locat ion request packet to the al locat ion funct ional
10 uni t 103.
[0108]
(S11)
Then, in response to an input of the al locat ion request packet , as
wel l as S11, the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 in the wireless
15 communicat ion device 20 determines whether the input al locat ion request
packet is the al locat ion request packet f rom the wireless communicat ion
device 21 const i tut ing the network 2.
[0109]
(Speci fic Operat ion of S11)
20 Specif ical ly, the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 in the wi reless
communicat ion device 20 executes th e aforement ioned processes ( I) to
( II I) . Note that the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 in the wi reless
communicat ion device 20 executes the aforement ioned processes ( I) to
( II I) by replacing the term “ the wireless communicat ion uni t 102” by the
25 term “ the communicat ion uni t 101-i ” .
[0110]
In this exemplary embodiment , in the aforement ioned sect ion “(1-2)
Preparatory Set t ing” , as i l lustrated in Fig. 3, the administrator of the
wireless communicat ion network in the present exemplary embodiment sets
34
an IP address whose network part is “172.18.1” in the al locat ion funct ional
uni t 103, as an IP address of the communicat ion uni t 101 -1. Further , the
administ rator of the wi reless communicat ion network in the present
exemplary embodiment sets an IP address whose network part is
“172.18.1” in the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103, as the IP address of th5 e
defaul t gateway. Regarding the aforement ioned two IP addresses, the
network parts are the same as each other . Since the network parts are the
same as each other , as a resul t of execut ing the aforement ioned processes
( I) to ( II I) , the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 in the wireless
10 communicat ion device 20 determines that the input al locat ion request
packet is not the al locat ion request packet f rom the wi reless
communicat ion device 21 const i tut ing the network 2.
[0111]
(S22)
15 When i t is determined that the input al locat ion request packet is not
the al locat ion request packet f rom the wi reless communicat ion device 21
const i tut ing the network 2 ( in the case of No in S11), the al locat ion
funct ional uni t 103 in the wi reless communicat ion device 20 transfers the
input al locat ion request packet to the other wireless communicat ion device
20 13.
[0112]
[Speci fic Operat ion of S22]
Specif ical ly, the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 in t he wi reless
communicat ion device 20 outputs the input al locat ion request packet to the
25 other communicat ion uni t . In this exemplary embodiment , the other
communicat ion uni t is a communicat ion uni t other than the communicat ion
uni t to which the al locat ion request packet is input (in this exemplary
embodiment , the communicat ion uni t 101-1), and is a communicat ion uni t
of an IP address having a same network part as the network part of the IP
35
address of the communicat ion uni t to which the al locat ion request pac ket is
input . In this exemplary embodiment , the communicat ion uni t 101-2
corresponds to the aforement ioned other communicat ion uni t . The
communicat ion uni t 101-2 outputs the input al locat ion request packet to
the wi reless communicat ion device 13 via a wi red l ine connected to th5 e
communicat ion uni t 101-2.
[0113]
(Operat ion of Wi reless Communicat ion Devices 12 and 13 after
S22)
10 The aforement ioned al locat ion request packet output from the
wireless communicat ion device 20 reaches the wi reless communicat ion
device 13. The wi reless communicat ion device 13 wi thout the funct ion of
a DHCP server t ransfers the input al locat ion request packet to the wi reless
communicat ion device 12 adjacent to the wi reless communicat ion device
15 13. The wireless communicat ion devic e 12 discards the input al locat ion
request packet , because there is no wi reless communicat ion device to
which the packet is to be t ransfer red.
[0114]
(2-2-4) Al locat ion Request Packet f rom Wireless Communicat ion
20 Devices 12 and 13
Note that , other than the wi reless communicat ion devices 11 and 21 ,
the al locat ion request packet s broadcasted f rom the wi reless
communicat ion devices 12, 13 are also input to the wi reless communicat ion
device 20 having the funct ion of a DHCP server. Also in this case, the
25 wireless communicat ion device 20 per forms the operat ions of S10 to S22 in
response to an input of the al locat ion request packet .
[0115]
As a resul t , the wireless communicat ion device 20 determines that
the al locat ion request packet s from the wi reless communicat ion devices 12,
36
13 are not the al locat ion request packet f rom the wireless communicat ion
device 21 const i tut ing a network together wi th the wireless communicat ion
device 20, and t ransfers the al locat ion request packet to the other wireless
communicat ion device 11.
[01165 ]
The wi reless communicat ion device 11 transfers the al locat ion
request packets f rom the wi reless communicat ion devices 12, 13 to the
wireless communicat ion device 10 adjacent to the wi reless communicat ion
device 11. Simi lar ly to the above, when the al locat ion request packet s
10 are input from the wireless communicat ion devices 12, 13, the wireless
communicat ion device 10 executes S10 to S22, determines that the input
al locat ion request packet is the al locat ion request packet f rom the wi reless
communicat ion device const i tut ing the network 1 together wi th the
wireless communicat ion device 10, and al locates an IP address to the
15 wireless communicat ion devices 12, 13.
[0117]
(3) Summary of Operat ion Resul t of Wireless Communicat ion
Devices 10, 20
As described above, as a resul t of an input of the al locat ion request
20 packet from each of the wi reless communicat ion devices, and execut ion of
S10 to S22, the wireless communicat ion device 20 al locates an IP address
to the wireless communicat ion device 21 const i tut ing the network 2
together wi th the wi reless communicat ion device 20. Further , as a resul t
of an input of the al locat ion request packet from each of the wi reless
25 communicat ion devices, and execut ion of S10 to S22, the wi reless
communicat ion device 10 al locates an IP address to the wireless
communicat ion devices 11 to 13 const i tut ing the network 1 together wi th
the wi reless communicat ion device 10.
[0118]
37
In this case, in the wireless communicat ion network in the present
exemplary embodiment , even when the radio l ink 40 is deteriorated, as far
as the radio l ink 41 is not deteriorated, i t is possible to al locate an IP
address from the wireless communicat ion device 20 provided wi th the
funct ion of a DHCP server to the wireless communicat ion devic e 215 .
[0119]
On the other hand, in a typical P2P communicat ion network, when
once the radio l ink 520 ( corresponding to the radio l ink 40) is deteriorated,
i t is impossible to al locate an IP address f rom the DHCP server to the
10 wireless communicat ion device 513 (a device cor responding to the wi reless
communicat ion device 21 in the present exemplary embodiment ).
[0120]
In the wi reless communicat ion network in the present exemplary
embodiment , i t is possible to suppress a case that an IP address is not
15 al located to the wi reless communicat ion device .
[0121]
(4) Other Configurat ion Examples
Fig. 5 is a diagram i l lustrat ing another configurat ion example of the
wireless communicat ion network in the fi rst exemplary embodiment of the
20 present invent ion (a case in which each of the wi reless communicat ion
devices is connected by a radio l ink). Fig. 6 is a diagram i l lust rat ing
another configurat ion example of the wi reless communicat ion device 20
provided in a wi reless communicat ion system in the fi rst exemplary
embodiment of the present invent ion.
25 [0122]
In the wi reless communicat ion network in the present exemplary
embodiment , as i l lustrated in Fig. 5, each of the wireless communicat ion
devices const i tut ing a network may be connected only by a radio l ink.
[0123]
38
In this case, the wireless communicat ion devices 10, 20 are
provided wi th wireless communicat ion uni ts 102 -i (i=1 to the number of
devices to be connected via radio l inks) by the number equal to the number
of devices to be connected via radio l inks. For in stance, the wireless
communicat ion device 20 is provided wi th three devices (i .e. the wireles5 s
communicat ion devices 10, 13, and 21) to be connected via radio l inks.
Therefore, as i l lustrated in Fig. 6, the wi reless communicat ion device 20 is
provided wi th wireless communicat ion uni ts 102-1, 102-2, and 102-3.
[0124]
10 The funct ion of the wireless communicat ion uni t 102-i is the same
as the funct ion of the aforement ioned wireless communicat ion uni t 102.
Further, the funct ion of the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 is the same as
the funct ion described in “(4) Funct ion of Each Uni t Const i tut ing Wireless
Communicat ion Devices 10, 20” in the aforement ioned sect ion
15 [Descript ion on Configurat ion] . Note that the term “ the wireless
communicat ion uni t 102” is replaced by the term “ the wi reless
communicat ion uni t 102-i ” .
[0125]
The wi reless communicat ion network in the present exemplary
20 embodiment , in which each of the wi reless communicat ion devices is
connected only by a radio l ink also executes S10 to S22. However, when
S10 to S21 are executed, the term “ the wireless communicat ion uni t 102” is
replaced by the term “ the wi reless communicat ion uni t 102 -1” .
[0126]
25 Further, the administrator of the wi reless communicat ion network
in the present exemplary embodiment sets in advance the IP address of the
wireless communicat ion uni t 102-i provided in the wi reless communicat ion
device in the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 in the wireless communicat ion
devices 10, 20. For instance, in the case of the wi reless communicat ion
39
device 20, the administrator of the wireless communicat ion network in the
present exemplary embodiment may set “172.18.1.1/24” as the IP address
of the wi reless communicat ion uni t 102-1. Further, the administ rator of
the wi reless communicat ion network in the present exemplary embodiment
may set “172.18.1.2/24” as the IP address of the wi reless communicat io5 n
uni t 102-2, and may set “172.18.1.3/24” as the IP address of the wi reless
communicat ion uni t 102-2.
[0127]
Note that the wi reless communicat ion uni t 10 2-i and the
10 communicat ion uni t 101-i may be provided wi th a t ransmission means and
a receiving means. The t ransmission means is a funct ional uni t which
executes S17, and the receiving means is a funct ional uni t which executes
S10 or S21 or both.
[0128]
15 Further, the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 may be provided in the
wireless communicat ion uni ts 102-i or in the communicat ion uni ts 101-i .
In this case, the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103 is integral ly provided wi th
the transmission means or the receiving means described above.
[0129]
20 [Descript ion on Advantageous Ef fects]
According to the present exemplary embodiment , a wi reless
communicat ion network is advantageous in sufficient ly reducing the cost
requi red to form a new network. This is because in the wi reless
communicat ion network in the present exemplary embodiment , i t is not
25 necessary to addi t ional ly provide a DHCP server, because the wi reless
communicat ion device i tsel f is provided wi th the funct ion of a DHCP
server .
[0130]
Further, according to the wi reless communicat ion network in the
40
present exemplary embodiment , i t is possible to avoid a case that an IP
address is not al located to the wi reless communicat ion device .
[0131]
The reason for this is that the wi reless communicat ion network in
the present exemplary embodiment is provided wi th two or more wireles5 s
communicat ion devices having a DHCP funct ion (hereinafter , refer red to
as “DHCP devices” ), and each of the DHCP devices are instal led wi th the
radio l ink(s) between them.
[0132]
10 As a resul t , i t is possible to reduce the number of radio l inks
between the DHCP wireless communicat ion device and wireless
communicat ion devices, as compared wi th the network disclosed in PTL 1.
This is advantageous to securely al locate an IP address to each of the
wireless communicat ion devices by the DHCP wi reless communicat ion
15 device. Thus, according to the wi reless communicat ion network in the
present exemplary embodiment , i t is possible to avoid a case that an IP
address is not al located to the wi reless communicat ion device .
[0133]
Further, according to the wi reless communicat ion network in the
20 present exemplary embodiment , i t is possible to reduce the number of
wireless communicat ion devices to which an IP address is not al located, as
compared wi th the network disclosed in PTL 1. Therefore, i t is possible
to reduce the number of t imes by which a network administrator is requi red
to go to a place where the wi reless communicat ion device is instal led, and
25 to manual ly al locate an IP address to the wireless communi cat ion device.
[0134]
[Second Embodiment ]
Next , the second exemplary embodiment of the present invent ion is
described.
41
[0135]
In the wi reless communicat ion network in the fi rst exemplary
embodiment , the administ rator of the wireless communicat ion networ k in
the present exemplary embodiment sets various IP addresses in advance in
the wireless communicat ion devices 10, 20 provided wi th a DHCP funct ion5 .
In the wi reless communicat ion network in the second exemplary
embodiment , an EMS sets various IP address es in the wireless
communicat ion devices 10, 20 provided wi th a DHCP funct ion. Further,
in the wi reless communicat ion network in the second exemplary
10 embodiment , when al l the al locatable IP addresses are al located, the
wireless communicat ion devices 10, 20 provided wi th a DHCP funct ion
not i fy the EMS that al l the al locatable IP addresses are al located together
wi th an IP address thereof. The EMS displays the IP address of the
wireless communicat ion devices 10, 20 provided wi th a DHCP funct ion, in
15 which al l the al locatable IP addresses are al located.
[0136]
[Descript ion on Conf igurat ion]
Fig. 7 is a diagram i l lust rat ing a configurat ion example of the
wireless communicat ion network in the second exemplary embodiment of
20 the present invent ion. Fig. 8 is a diagram i l lustrat ing a configurat ion
example of wireless communicat ion devices provided in the wi reless
communicat ion network in the fi rst exemplary embodiment of the present
invent ion.
[0137]
25 (1) Configurat ion of Wi reless Communicat ion Network in the
Second Embodiment of the Present Invent ion
As i l lust rated in Fig. 7, the wi reless communicat ion network in the
second exemplary embodiment is provided wi th an EMS 230 and wireless
communicat ion devices 210 and 220, in place of the EMS 30 and the
42
wireless communicat ion devices 10 and 20. Further, as i l lustrated in Fig.
8, the wi reless communicat ion devices 210, 220 are provided wi th
communicat ion uni ts 201-i (i=1 to the number of devices to be connected
via wi red l ines), in place of the communicat ion uni ts 10 1- i (i=1 to the
number of devices to be connected via wi red l ines). Further , the wi reles5 s
communicat ion devices 210, 220 are provided wi th a wi reless
communicat ion uni t 202, an al locat ion funct ional uni t 203, and an
informat ion holding uni t 205, in place of the wireless communicat ion uni t
102, the al locat ion funct ional uni t 103, and the informat ion holding uni t
10 105.
[0138]
(2) Funct ion of EMS 230
The EMS 230 sets various IP addresses in advance by the
administ rator of the wi reless communicat ion network in the present
15 exemplary embodiment . Various IP addresses are an IP address of each
port in the wi reless communicat ion devices 210, 220, IP addresses
al locatable to wi reless communicat ion devices 11 to 13, and 21 by the
wireless communicat ion devices 210, 220, and the IP address of the defaul t
gateway to be used by the wi reless communicat ion devices 210, 220.
20 [0139]
When a predetermined operat ion is performed by the administrator
of the wireless communicat ion network in the present exemplary
embodiment , the EMS 230 outputs the aforement ioned var ious IP addresses
to the wi reless communicat ion devices 210, 220.
25 [0140]
Specif ical ly, when a predetermined operat ion is per formed, the
EMS 230 outputs, to the wireless communicat ion device 210, the IP
address of each port in the wi reless communicat ion device 210, al locatable
IP addresses, and the IP address of the defaul t gateway to be used by the
43
wireless communicat ion device 210, as a packet . Likewise, when a
predetermined operat ion is performed, the EMS 230 out puts, to the
wireless communicat ion device 220, the IP address of each por t in the
wireless communicat ion device 220, al locatable IP addresses, and the IP
address of the defaul t gateway to be used by the wi reless communicat io5 n
device 220, as a packet .
[0141]
Further, in response to an input of a packet indicat ing that an IP
address is al ready al located, the EMS 230 extracts an IP address f rom the
10 packet , and displays the IP address on a screen provided in the EMS 230.
[0142]
(3) Funct ion of Wi reless Communicat ion devices 210, 220
In response to an input of a packet from the EMS 230, the wireless
communicat ion devices 210, 220 acquire and hold various IP addresses
15 from the input packet . Further, when al l the al locatable IP addresses are
al located, the wi reless communicat ion devices 210, 220 output a packet
indicat ing that an IP address is already al located to the EMS 230. In this
case, the wi reless communicat ion devices 210, 220 output the packet
indicat ing that an IP address is al ready al located, in whi ch the IP addresses
20 of the wireless communicat ion devices 210, 220 are included.
[0143]
In order to implement the aforement ioned funct ion, each uni t in the
wireless communicat ion devices 210, 220 is provided wi th the fol lowing
funct ion.
25 [0144]
(4) Funct ion of Each Uni t in Wireless Communicat ion Devices
210, 220
In response to an input of a packet from the EMS 230, the
communicat ion uni t 201-i in the wireless communicat ion devices 210, 220
44
output the packet to the al locat ion funct ional uni t 203. In resp onse to an
input of a packet indicat ing that an IP address is already al located from the
al locat ion funct ional uni t 203, the communicat ion uni t 201 -i outputs the
packet to the EMS 230.
[01455 ]
The al locat ion funct ional uni t s 203 in the wireless communicat ion
devices 210, 220 extract and store var ious IP addresses f rom the input
packet . Further , the al locat ion funct ional uni t 203 acquires al locatable
IP addresses f rom the extracted various IP addresses, and outputs the
10 acqui red al locatable IP addresses to the informat ion holding uni t 205.
When a signal indicat ing that an IP address is al ready al located is input
from the informat ion holding uni t 205, the al locat ion funct ional uni t 203
outputs a packet indicat ing that an IP address is al ready al located to the
communicat ion uni t 201-1. Note that the al locat ion funct ional uni t 203
15 outputs the packet indicat ing that an IP address is already al located, in
which an IP address of a port ( for example, the communicat ion uni t 201-1)
is included.
[0146]
In response to an input of al locatable IP addresses f rom the
20 al locat ion funct ional uni t 203, the informat ion holding uni t 205 in the
wireless communicat ion devices 210, 220 holds the al locatable IP
addresses therein. Further, when an al locatable IP address is requested
from the al locat ion funct ional uni t 203, and when the informat ion holding
uni t 205 does not hold any of the al locatable IP addresses, the informat ion
25 holding uni t 205 outputs a signal indicat ing that an IP address is already
al located to the al locat ion funct ional uni t 203. In response to an input of
al locatable IP addresses from the al locat ion funct ional uni t 203, the
informat ion holding uni t 205 reads the stored IP address that is al ready
al located. The informat ion holding uni t 205 extracts an IP addres s other
45
than the ( read) IP address that is al ready al located, out of the input
al locatable IP addresses, and stores the extracted IP address, as a newly
al locatable IP address.
[0147]
Note that the conf igurat ion and funct ion other than the above ar5 e
the same as those of the wi reless communicat ion device to which a wireless
communicat ion terminal in the fi rst exemplary embodiment is appl ied.
Therefore, the same elements as those in the fi rst exemplary embodiment
are indicated by the same reference signs, a nd descript ion thereof is
10 omi t ted herein.
[0148]
[Descript ion on Operat ion]
Fig. 9 is a diagram for describing an operat ion of wi reless
communicat ion devices provided in the wi reless communicat ion network in
15 the second exemplary embodiment of the present invent ion. The
operat ion of the wireless communicat ion devices in the present exemplary
embodiment is described using Fig. 9.
[0149]
(1) Set t ing for Wireless Communicat ion Device 210
20 (S30)
Fi rst ly, as i l lust rated in Fig. 9, when a predetermined opera t ion is
performed by the administ rator of the wi reless communicat ion network in
the present exemplary embodiment , the EMS 230 outputs various IP
addresses set therein to the communicat ion uni t 201 -1 in the wi reless
25 communicat ion device 210, as a packet .
[0150]
Various IP addresses in this exemplary embodiment are the IP
address of each port in the wireless communicat ion device 210, IP
addresses al locatable to the wi reless communicat ion devices 11 to 13 by
46
the wireless communicat ion device 210, and the IP address of the defaul t
gateway to be used by the wireless communicat ion device 210. In order
to dist inguish these IP addresses f rom var ious IP addresses to be described
later in S32, hereinafter, various IP addresses in S30 are referred to as
“var ious IP addresses 1” 5 .
[0151]
(S31)
Then, in response to an input of a packet f rom the EMS 230, the
wireless communicat ion device 210 extracts various IP addresses 1 f rom
10 the input packet , and sets the extracted various IP addresses 1 therein.
[0152]
Specif ical ly, the wi reless communicat ion device 210 per forms the
fol lowing operat ions (a) to (e) .
[0153]
15 (a) In response to an input of a packet from the EMS 230, the
wireless communicat ion uni t 201-1 in the wi reless communicat ion device
210 outputs the packet to the al locat ion funct ional uni t 203.
[0154]
(b) Then, the al locat ion funct ional uni t 203 in the wi reless
20 communicat ion device 210 extracts various IP addresses 1 f rom the input
packet .
[0155]
(c) Then, the al locat ion funct ional uni t 203 in the wi reless
communicat ion device 210 stores the IP address of each port in the
25 wireless communicat ion device 210, and the IP address of the defaul t
gateway to be used by the wi reless communicat ion device 210, which are
included in the extracted various IP addresses 1.
[0156]
(d) Further, the al locat ion funct ional uni t 203 in the wi reless
47
communicat ion device 210 acqui res al locatable IP addresses f rom the
extracted various IP addresses, and outputs the acquired al locatable IP
addresses to the informat ion holding uni t 20 5.
[0157]
(e) Then, in response to input of al locatable IP addresses f rom th5 e
al locat ion funct ional uni t 203, the informat ion holding uni t 205 stores and
holds the input al locatable IP addresses.
[0158]
(2) Set t ing for Wireless Communicat ion Device 220
10 (S32)
After S30, when a predetermined operat ion is per formed by the
administ rator of the wi reless communicat ion network in the present
exemplary embodiment , the EMS 230 outputs various IP addresses set
therein to the wi reless communicat ion device 220 as a packet .
15 [0159]
Various IP addresses in S32 are the IP address of each port in the
wireless communicat ion device 220, IP addresses al locatable to the
wireless communicat ion device 21 by the wireless communicat ion device
220, and the IP address of the de faul t gateway to be used by the wireless
20 communicat ion device 220. Various IP addresses in S32 are di f ferent
from various IP addresses 1 in S30. Hereinafter, in order to dist inguish
various IP addresses in S32 f rom var ious IP addresses 1, the various IP
addresses in S32 are refer red to as “various IP addresses 2” .
[0160]
25 (S33)
Next , in response to an input of a packet including various IP
addresses 2 f rom the EMS 230, the wi reless communicat ion device 220
extracts the aforement ioned various IP addresses 2 f rom the input packet ,
and sets the extracted various IP addresses 2 therein.
48
[0161]
Specif ical ly, the wi reless communicat ion device 221 per forms the
aforement ioned operat ions (a) to (e) . Note that the aforement ioned
operat ions (a) to (e) are per formed by the wi reless communicat ion device
221 by replacing the term “ the wi reless communicat ion device 210 ” by th5 e
term “ the wireless communicat ion device 220 ” , and by replacing the term
“ the various IP addresses ” by the term “ the various IP addresses 2” .
[0162]
(3) Operat ion when Al l Al locatable IP Addresses are Al located
10 (Display Operat ion)
When the wi reless communicat ion devices 210, 220 repeat S10 to
S22, al locate al l the al locatable IP addresses to the wireless
communicat ion devices, and do not hold an y of the al locatable IP addresses
therein, the wireless communicat ion devices 210, 220 not i fy the EMS 230
15 accordingly. Speci fical ly, the wireless communicat ion devices 210, 220
perform the fol lowing operat ions of S40 to S43.
[0163]
(S40)
Fi rst ly, in S13, when the informat ion holding uni t 205 in the
20 wireless communicat ion devices 210, 220 does not hold any of the
al locatable IP addresses therein, the informat ion holding uni t 205 outputs a
signal indicat ing that an IP address is al ready al located to the al locat ion
funct ional uni t 203.
[0164]
25 (S41)
Then, in response to an input of the signal indicat ing that an IP
address is al ready al located, the al locat ion funct ional uni t 203 in the
wireless communicat ion devices 210, 220 does not execute S14, and
outputs a packet indicat ing that an IP address is al ready al located to the
49
communicat ion uni t 201-1.
[0165]
In this case, the al locat ion funct ional uni t 203 in the wi reless
communicat ion devices 210, 220 outputs a packet indicat ing that an IP
address is al ready al located, in which an IP address of the communicat io5 n
uni t 201-1 (that is acquired in (c)) is included. The IP address of the
communicat ion uni t 201-1 is an IP address corresponding to the wi reless
communicat ion device provided wi th the al locat ion funct ional uni t 203.
[0166]
10 (S42)
Then, the wi reless communicat ion uni t 201 -1 in the wi reless
communicat ion devices 210, 220 outputs the input packet indicat ing that an
IP address is al ready al located to the EMS 230.
[0167]
15 (S43)
Then, in response to an input of a packet indicat ing that an IP
address is al ready al located, the EMS 230 extracts an IP address
corresponding to the wi reless communicat ion device from the packet , and
displays the extracted IP address on a screen provided in the EMS 230.
20 In this case, the EMS 230 may display a message “The wi reless
communicat ion device (DHCP server) of the aforement ioned IP address
used up al l the al located IP addresses ” under the IP address.
[0168]
(3) Operat ion when Al l Al locatable IP addresses are al located
25 (Operat ion of Al locat ing New IP Address)
After checking the display of the EMS 230, the administrator of the
wireless communicat ion network in the present exemplary embodiment sets
a newly al locatable IP address in the wireless communicat ion device to
which al l the IP addresses are al located. The aforement ioned operat ion is
50
implemented when the administrator of the wireless communicat ion
network in the present exemplary embodiment performs a predetermined
operat ion on the EMS 230, and when the wireless commun icat ion network
in the present exemplary embodiment executes the fol lowing S44 to S46.
[01695 ]
(S44)
Fi rst ly, when a predetermined operat ion is performed by the
administ rator of the wi reless communicat ion network in the present
exemplary embodiment , the EMS 230 extracts an IP address of the
10 communicat ion uni t 201-1 f rom the input packet indicat ing that an IP
address is al ready al located.
[0170]
(S45)
Then, the EMS 230 outputs, to the communicat ion uni t 201 -1
15 corresponding to an extracted IP address, various IP addresses (hereinafter ,
refer red to as “var ious IP addresses 3” ), in which the number of al locatable
IP addresses is larger than the number of various IP addresses 1, 2, as a
packet .
[0171]
20 Note that various IP addresses 3 are set in advance in the EMS 230
by the administ rator of the wi reless communicat ion network in the present
exemplary embodiment .
[0172]
(S46)
25 Then, in response to an input of a packet f rom the EMS 230, the
communicat ion uni t 201-1 in the wi reless communicat ion device 210
performs the aforement ioned operat ion (a) descr ibed in S31. Thereafter,
each funct ional uni t in the wi reless communicat ion device 210 per forms
the aforement ioned operat ions (b) to (e) described in S31. Note that each
51
funct ional uni t in the wi reless communicat i on device 210 performs the
operat ions (b) to (e) described in S31 by replacing the term “ the various IP
addresses 1” by the term “ the various IP addresses 3” . Note that the
informat ion holding uni t 205 in the wi reless communicat ion device 210
executes the fol lowing operat ion (e’ ) in place of the aforement ione5 d
operat ion (e) so that an al ready al located IP address is not held.
[0173]
(e’ )
In response to an input of al locatable IP addresses f rom the
10 al locat ion funct ional uni t 203, the informat ion holding u ni t 205 reads a
stored IP address that is al ready al located in S18. The informat ion
holding uni t 205 extracts an IP address except for the (read) IP address that
is al ready al located, out of the input al locatable IP addresses, and stores
the extracted IP address as a newly al locatable IP address.
15 [0174]
As a resul t of S44 to S46, in the wi reless communicat ion network in
the present exemplary embodiment , i t is possible to set a newly al locatable
IP address in the wireless communicat ion device which al located al l the IP
addresses.
20 [0175]
The other operat ions are the same as the operat ions in the fi rst
exemplary embodiment , and therefore, detai led descript ion thereof is
omi t ted herein.
[0176]
25 [Descript ion on Advantageous Ef fects]
According to the wi reless communicat ion network in the present
exemplary embodiment , i t is possible to set various IP addresses from the
EMS 230 in the wi reless communicat ion device provided wi th a DHCP
funct ion.
52
[0177]
The reason for this is that the EMS outputs various IP addres ses to
the wi reless communicat ion device provided wi th a DHCP funct ion as a
packet , and the wi reless communicat ion device provided wi th a DHCP
funct ion extracts var ious IP addresses f rom the packet input from the EM5 S
230 and sets the extracted various IP addresses therein.
[0178]
[Third Embodiment]
Next , the thi rd exemplary embodiment of the present invent ion is
10 described.
[0179]
[Descript ion on Conf igurat ion]
Fig. 10 is a diagram i l lust rat ing a configurat ion example of a
wireless communicat ion network in the third exemplary embodiment of the
15 present invent ion.
[0180]
As i l lust rated in Fig. 10, in the wi reless communicat ion network in
the third exemplary embodiment , the wireless communicat ion device 300 is
connected to a communicat ion device 310 that serves as the other
20 communicat ion device via a radio l ink.
[0181]
In the wi reless communicat ion network in the present exemplary
embodiment , the other communicat ion device is not l imi ted to the
communicat ion device 310. In other words, two or more other
25 communicat ion devices may be provided in the wi reless communicat ion
network in the present exemplary embodiment .
[0182]
After act ivat ion, the wi reless communicat ion device 300 performs
point -to-point wi reless communicat ion wi th at least one of the other
53
communicat ion devices (i .e. the communicat ion device 310) . In response
to an input of a predetermined signal , the wi reless communicat ion device
300 al locates a predetermined ident i ficat ion number to the other
communicat ion device 310.
[01835 ]
The predetermined ident if icat ion number is a predetermined IP
address, and is set in the wireless communicat ion device 300 by the
administ rator of the wi reless communicat ion network in the present
exemplary embodiment .
10 [0184]
Note that the other communicat ion device 310 may be a device
which outputs the aforement ioned predetermined signal when the other
communicat ion device 310 per forms point -to-point wi reless
communicat ion wi th the wi reless communicat ion device 300 after
15 act ivat ion.
[0185]
[Descript ion on Operat ion]
Fi rst ly, after act ivat ion, the wi reless communicat ion device 300
performs point -to-point wireless communicat ion wi th at least one of the
20 other communicat ion devices (i .e. the communicat ion device 310).
[0186]
Then, when the other communicat ion device 310 p er forms
point -to-point wireless communicat ion wi th the wireless communicat ion
device 300, the other communicat ion device 310 outputs a predetermined
25 signal to the wi reless communicat ion device 300.
[0187]
Then, in response to an input of a predetermined s ignal f rom the
other communicat ion device 310, the wi reless communicat ion device 300
al locates a predetermined ident i ficat ion number to the other
54
communicat ion device 310.
[0188]
The ident ificat ion number may be an IP address.
[0189]
[Descript ion on Advantageous Ef fects5 ]
According to the present exemplary embodiment , a wi reless
communicat ion network is advantageous in sufficient ly reducing the cost
requi red to form a new network. This is because in the wi reless
communicat ion network in the present exemplary embodiment , i t is not
10 necessary to addi t ional ly provide a DHCP server, because the wi reless
communicat ion device i tsel f is provided wi th the funct ion of a DHCP
server .
[0190]
Whi le the invent ion has been part icularly shown and described wi th
15 reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, the invent ion is not l imi ted
to these embodiments. It wi l l be understood by those of ordinary ski l l in
the art that various changes in form and detai ls may be made therein
wi thout depart ing f rom the spi ri t and scope of the present invent ion as
defined by the claims.
20 [0191]
This appl icat ion is based upon and claims the benefi t of prior i ty
from Japanese Patent Appl icat ion No. 2013-270781 fi led on December 27,
2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in i ts ent irety by
reference.
25 [0192]
The whole or part of the exemplary embodiments disclosed above
can be described as, but not l imi ted to, the fol lowing supplementary notes.
(Supplementary Note 1)
A wireless communicat ion device which per forms point -to-point
55
wireless communicat ion wi th at least one of other communicat ion devices,
wherein
in response to an input of a predetermined signal , a predetermined
ident if icat ion number is al located to the other communicat ion device.
(Supplementary Note 25 )
The wi reless communicat ion device according to Supplementary
Note 1, wherein
in response to an input of the predetermined signal f rom the other
communicat ion device, the predetermined ident i ficat ion number is
10 al located to the other communicat ion device.
(Supplementary Note 3)
The wi reless communicat ion device according to any one of
Supplementary Notes 1 and 2, comprising:
a communicat ion means which receives the predetermined signal
15 from the other communicat ion device, wherein
when the predetermined communicat ion means receives the
predetermined signal , the predetermined ident ificat ion number is al located
to the other communicat ion device via the predetermined communicat ion
means.
20 (Supplementary Note 4)
The wi reless communicat ion device according to any one of
Supplementary Notes 1 and 2, comprising:
a communicat ion means which receives the predetermined signal
from the other communicat ion device, wherein
25 when the communicat ion means receives the predetermined signal ,
and when a fi rst network part and a second network part are dif ferent f rom
each other , the first network part being a network part of a predetermined
IP address al located to the communicat ion means that received the
predetermined signal , the second network part being a network part of a
56
predetermined IP address al located to a defaul t gateway, the predetermined
ident if icat ion number is al located to the other communicat ion device via
the communicat ion means that received the predetermined signal .
(Supplementary Note 5)
The wi reless communicat ion devic e according to Supplementar5 y
Note 4, wherein
a plural i ty of the communicat ion means are included, and
when the f irst network part and the second network par t are the
same, a communicat ion means outputs the predetermined signal , the
10 communicat ion means being a communicat ion means other than the
communicat ion means that received the predetermined signal and having
an IP address whose network part equivalent to the f irst network part .
(Supplementary Note 6)
A wireless communicat ion network, comprising:
15 the wi reless communicat ion device of any one of Supplementary
Notes 1 to 5, wherein
the wi reless communicat ion device is an al locat ing wi reless
communicat ion device.
(Supplementary Note 7)
20 The wi reless communicat ion network according to Supplementary
Note 6, further comprising:
a moni tor device, wherein
the moni tor device outputs the predetermined ident if icat ion number
held therein to the al locat ing wireless communicat ion device, and
25 the al locat ing wi reless communicat ion device holds the
predetermined ident i ficat ion number thus input .
(Supplementary Note 8)
The wi reless communicat ion network according to any one of
Supplementary Notes 6 and 7, further comprising:
57
a second network port ion in which a second al locat ing wi reles s
communicat ion device is interposed between a radio l ink and the f irst other
communicat ion device of a fi rst fi rst network port ion, the first network
port ion being such that the fi rst other communicat ion device, the radio l ink,
and the fi rst al locat ing wi reless communicat ion device are connected i5 n
this order, wherein
number of radio l inks in the second network port ion is equal to
number of radio l inks in the first network port ion, and
in response to an input of the predetermined signal , at least the
10 second al locat ing wi reless communicat ion device al locates the
predetermined ident ificat ion number to the first other communicat ion
device.
(Supplementary Note 9)
An ident ificat ion-number set t ing method for a wi reless
15 communicat ion means which performs point -to-point wi reless
communicat ion wi th at least one of other communicat ion means, the
method compr ising:
in response to an input of a predetermined signal , al locat ing a
predetermined ident i ficat ion number to the other communicat ion means.
20 (Supplementary Note 10)
The ident ificat ion-number set t ing method according to
Supplementary Note 9, wherein
in response to an input of the predetermined signal f rom the other
communicat ion means, the predetermined ident ificat ion number is
25 al located to the other communicat ion means.
(Supplementary Note 11)
The ident ificat ion-number set t ing method according to any one of
Supplementary Notes 9 to 10, wherein
the wireless communicat ion means is means including a
58
transmi t t ing and receiving means which receives the predetermined signal
from the other communicat ion means, and
when the predetermined t ransmi t t ing and receiving means receives
the predetermined signal , the predetermined ident i ficat ion number is
al located to the other communicat ion means via the predetermine5 d
transmi t t ing and receiving means.
(Supplementary Note 12)
The ident ificat ion-number set t ing method according to any one of
Supplementary Notes 9 and 10, wherein
10 the wireless communicat ion means is means including a
transmi t t ing and receiving means which receives the predetermined sig nal
from the other communicat ion means, wherein
when the transmi t t ing and receiving means receives the
predetermined signal , and when a fi rst network part and a second network
15 part are di fferent from each other , the fi rst network part being a network
part of a predetermined IP address al located to the t ransmi t t ing and
receiving means that received the predetermined signal , the second
network part being a network part of a predetermined IP address
al located to a defaul t gateway, the predetermined ident i ficat ion number is
20 al located to the other communicat ion means via the transmi t t ing and
receiving means that received the predetermined signal .
(Supplementary Note 13)
The ident ificat ion-number set t ing method according to
Supplementary Note 12, wherein
25 the wi reless communicat ion means is means including a plural i ty of
the transmi t t ing and receiving means, and
when the f irst network part and the second network par t are the
same, the predetermined signal is output by the t ransmi t t ing and receiving
means other than the t ransmi t t ing and receiving means that received the
59
predetermined signal , the t ransmi t t ing and receiving means having an IP
address whose network part is the fi rst network part .
(Supplementary Note 14)
The wi reless communicat ion device according to any one of
Supplementary Notes 1 to 5, wherei5 n
the ident i ficat ion number is an IP address.
(Supplementary Note 15)
The wi reless communicat ion network according to any one of
Supplementary Notes 6 to 8, wherein
10 the ident i ficat ion number is an IP address.
(Supplementary Note 16)
The ident ificat ion-number set t ing method according to any one of
Supplementary Notes 9 to 13, wherein
the ident i ficat ion number is an IP address.
15 (Supplementary Note 17)
A communicat ion device provided wi th a wi reless communicat ion
means which preforms point -to-point wi reless communicat ion, the
communicat ion device comprising:
a receiving means which receives a request signal request ing
20 al locat ion of an IP address from another communicat ion device; and
a transmission means which transmi ts, to the another
communicat ion device, an IP address al locat ion signal including an IP
address to be al located to the another communicat ion device.
(Supplementary Note 18)
25 The communicat ion device according to Supplementary Note 17,
further comprising:
a plural i ty of communicat ion means including the wi reles s
communicat ion means, wherein
when the wireless communicat ion means out of the communicat ion
60
means receives the request signal , the communicat ion device transmi ts the
IP address al locat ion signal f rom the wireless communicat ion means, and
when the communicat ion means other than the wi reless
communicat ion means receives the request signal , the communicat ion
device t ransmi ts does not transmi t the IP address al locat ion signal 5 .
(Supplementary Note 19)
A wireless communicat ion network, including:
a second network port ion in which a second second-type wi reless
communicat ion device is interposed between a radio l ink and a first
10 first - type wi reless communicat ion device of a fi rst network port ion, the
first network port ion being such that the first fi rst -type wireless
communicat ion device, the radio l ink, and a first second -type wireless
communicat ion device are connected in this order , wherein
number of radio l inks in the second network port ion is equal to
15 number of radio l inks in the first network port ion, and
in response to an input of a predetermined signal , at least the
second second-type wireless communicat ion device al locates a
predetermined ident ificat ion number to the fi rst fi rs t -type wireless
communicat ion device.
20 (Supplementary Note 20)
The wi reless communicat ion network according to Supplementary
Note 19, wherein
the wi reless communicat ion network is provided wi th at least one of
the first -type wi reless communicat ion devices including the first fi rst -type
25 wireless communicat ion device, and
in response to an input of the predetermined signal f rom the
predetermined fi rst - type wireless communicat ion device, each of the
second-type wi reless communicat ion devices al locates the pr edetermined
ident if icat ion number to the predetermined fi rst -type wi reless
61
communicat ion device.
(Supplementary Note 21)
The wi reless communicat ion network according to Supplementary
Note 20, wherein
the second-type wireless communicat ion device include 5 s a
communicat ion means which receives the predetermined signal for each of
the fi rst -type wi reless communicat ion devices to be connected, and
when the communicat ion means receives the predetermined signal ,
and when a fi rst network part and a second network part are dif ferent f rom
10 each other , the first network part being a network part of a predetermined
IP address al located to the communicat ion means that receive d the
predetermined signal , the second network part being a network part of a
predetermined IP address al located to a defaul t gateway, the second-type
wireless communicat ion device al locates the predetermined ident i ficat ion
15 number to the first - type wi reless communicat ion device to be connected to
the communicat ion means that received the predetermined signal .
(Supplementary Note 22)
The wi reless communicat ion network according to Supplementary
Note 21, wherein
20 when the f irst network part and the second network par t are the
same, the second- type wi reless communicat ion device causes the
communicat ion means to output the predetermined signal , the
communicat ion means being the communicat ion means other than the
communicat ion means that received the predetermined signal , and having
25 an IP address whose network part equivalent to the f irst network part .
(Supplementary Note 23)
The wi reless communicat ion network according to any one of
Supplementary Notes 19 to 22, including:
a moni tor device, wherein
62
the moni tor device outputs the predetermined ident i ficat ion
numbers held therein to the second-type wi reless communicat ion device,
and
the second- type wireless communicat ion device holds the
predetermined ident i ficat ion numbers thus input 5 .
(Supplementary Note 24)
The wi reless communicat ion network according to Supplementary
Note 23, wherein
the second-type wireless communicat ion device stores the
10 predetermined ident i ficat ion number al located to the fi rst -type wi reless
communicat ion device, as an ident i ficat ion number that is al ready
al located, and holds the predetermined ident ificat ion number except for the
ident if icat ion number that is al ready al located, out of the predetermined
ident if icat ion numbers input f rom the moni tor device.
15 [Reference signs List]
[0193]
1, 2 Network
10, 11, 12, 13, 20, 21, 210, 220, 300, 513 Wireless
communicat ion device
20 30, 230 EMS
40, 41, 520, 521 Radio l ink
101-i , 201-i Communicat ion uni t
102, 202 Wireless communicat ion uni t
103, 203 Al locat ion funct ional uni t
25 104 Al locat ion grasping uni t
105, 205 Informat ion holding uni t
310 Communicat ion device
501 Router
502 Wireless LAN access point terminal
63
503-1, 503-2, 503-3 Wireless LAN terminal
504 DHCP server
505-1, 505-2, 505-3 DHCP cl ient funct ional uni t
506 Wireless LAN
64
[Document Name] CLAIMS
1. A wireless communicat ion device which per forms point -to-point
wireless communicat ion wi th at least one of other communicat ion devices,
wherei5 n
in response to an input of a predetermined signal , a predetermined
ident if icat ion number is al located to the other communicat ion device.
2. The wi reless communicat ion device accordi ng to claim 1, wherein
10 in response to an input of the predetermined signal f rom the other
communicat ion device, the predetermined ident i ficat ion number is
al located to the other communicat ion device.
3. The wi reless communicat ion device according to any one of claims
15 1 and 2, comprising:
a communicat ion means which receives the predetermined signal
from the other communicat ion device, wherein
when the predetermined communicat ion means receives the
predetermined signal , the predetermined ident ificat ion n umber is al located
20 to the other communicat ion device via the predetermined communicat ion
means.
4. The wi reless communicat ion device according to any one of claims
1 and 2, comprising:
25 a communicat ion means which receives the predetermined signal
from the other communicat ion device, wherein
when the communicat ion means receives the predetermined signal ,
and when a fi rst network part and a second network part are dif ferent f rom
each other , the first network part being a network part of a predetermined
65
IP address al located to the communicat ion means that receive d the
predetermined signal , the second network part being a network part of a
predetermined IP address al located to a defaul t gateway, the predetermined
ident if icat ion number is al located to the other communicat ion device via
the communicat ion means that received the predetermined signal 5 .
5. The wi reless communicat ion device according to claim 4, wherein
a plural i ty of the communicat ion means are included, and
when the f irst network part and the second network par t are the
10 same, a communicat ion means output s the predetermined signal , the
communicat ion means being a communicat ion means other than the
communicat ion means that received the predetermined signal and having
an IP address whose network part equivalent to the f irst network part .
15 6. A wireless communicat ion network, comprising:
the wi reless communicat ion device of any one of claims 1 to 5,
wherein
the wi reless communicat ion device is an al locat ing wi reless
communicat ion device.
20
7. The wi reless communicat ion network according to claim 6, further
comprising:
a moni tor device, wherein
the moni tor device outputs the predetermined ident if icat ion number
25 held therein to the al locat ing wireless communicat ion device, and
the al locat ing wi reless communicat ion device holds the
predetermined ident i ficat ion number thus input .
8. The wi reless communicat ion network according to any one of
66
claims 6 and 7, fur ther comprising:
a second network port ion in which a second al locat ing wi reles s
communicat ion device is interposed between a radio l ink and the f irst other
communicat ion device of a fi rst fi rst network port ion, the first network
port ion being such that the fi rst other communicat ion device, the radio l ink5 ,
and the fi rst al locat ing wi reless communicat ion device are connected in
this order, wherein
number of radio l inks in the second network port ion is equal to
number of radio l inks in the first network port ion, and
10 in response to an input of the predetermined signal , at least the
second al locat ing wi reless communicat ion device al locates the
predetermined ident ificat ion number to the first other communicat ion
device.
15 9. An ident ificat ion-number set t ing method for a wi reless
communicat ion means which performs point -to-point wi reless
communicat ion wi th at least one of other communicat ion means, the
method compr ising:
in response to an input of a predetermined signal , al locat ing a
20 predetermined ident i ficat ion number to the other communicat ion means.
10. The ident if icat ion-number set t ing method according to claim 9,
wherein
in response to an input of the predetermined signal f rom the other
25 communicat ion means, the predetermined ident ificat ion number is
al located to the other communicat ion means.
11. The ident ificat ion-number set t ing method according to any one of
claims 9 to 10, wherein
67
the wireless communicat ion means is means including a
transmi t t ing and receiving means which receives the predetermined signal
from the other communicat ion means, and
when the predetermined t ransmi t t ing and receiving means receives
the predetermined signal , the predetermined ident i ficat ion number i5 s
al located to the other communicat ion means via the predetermined
transmi t t ing and receiving means .
12. The ident ificat ion-number set t ing method according to any one of
10 claims 9 and 10, wherein
the wireless communicat ion means is means including a
transmi t t ing and receiving means which receives the predetermined signal
from the other communicat ion means, wherein
when the transmi t t ing and receiving means receives the
15 predetermined signal , and when a fi rst network part and a second network
part are di fferent from each other , the fi rst network part being a network
part of a predetermined IP address al located to the t ransmi t t ing and
receiving means that received the predetermined signal , the second
network part being a network part of a predetermined IP address
20 al located to a defaul t gateway, the predetermined ident i ficat ion number is
al located to the other communicat ion means via the transmi t t ing and
receiving means that received the predetermined signal .
13. The ident i ficat ion-number set t ing method according to claim 12,
25 wherein
the wi reless communicat ion means is means including a plural i ty of
the transmi t t ing and receiving means , and
when the f irst network part and the second network par t are the
same, the predetermined signal is output by the t ransmi t t ing and receiving
68
means other than the t ransmi t t ing and receiving means that received the
predetermined signal , the t ransmi t t ing and receiving means having an IP
address whose network part is the fi rst network part .
14. The wi reless communicat ion device according to any one of claim5 s
1 to 5, wherein
the ident i ficat ion number is an IP address.
15. The wi reless communicat ion network according to any one of
10 claims 6 to 8, wherein
the ident i ficat ion number is an IP address.
16. The ident ificat ion-number set t ing method according to any one of
claims 9 to 13, wherein
15 the ident i ficat ion number is an IP address.
17. A communicat ion device provided wi th a wi reless communicat ion
means which preforms point -to-point wi reless communicat ion, the
communicat ion device comprising:
20 a receiving means which receives a request signal request ing
al locat ion of an IP address from another communicat ion device; and
a transmission means which transmi ts, to the another
communicat ion device, an IP address al locat ion signal including an IP
address to be al located to the another communicat ion device.
25
18. The communicat ion device according to claim 17, further
comprising:
a plural i ty of communicat ion means including the wi reles s
communicat ion means, wherein
69
when the wireless communicat ion means out of the communicat ion
means receives the request signal , the communicat ion device transmi ts the
IP address al locat ion signal f rom the wireless communicat io n means, and
when the communicat ion means other than the wi reless
communicat ion means receives the request signal , the communicat io5 n
device t ransmi ts does not transmi t the IP address al location signal .